Snap-on aprons



Oct. 17, 1961 J. MASURE SNAP-ON APRONS Filed Dec. 8, 1958 INVENTOR. Joe/ Masur'e ATTORNEY 3,004,315 Patented Oct. 17, 1961 3,004,315 SNAP-ON APRONS Joel Masure, 1525 Lowell Blvd., Denver, Colo. Filed Dec. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 778,967 1 Claim. (Cl. 243) This invention relates to a work apron and more particularly to a method and means for attaching a work apron to a user. An apron of this type is, in most cases, frequently removed and replaced. When apron strings are used, these quickly become knotted, tangled, and frayed from frequent untying and tying. The principal object of this invention is to eliminate the usual apron strings and to provide means which can be quickly applied to the conventional trouser belt of the user to enable him to instantly put on and remove the work apron when desired.

In certain classes of work, there is danger of a work apron becoming entangled in operating machinery and, if the apron is securely tied to the user, great damage and injury can result. Another object of this invention is to provide a work apron which, should it become entangled in operating machinery, will instantly detach itself from the user so that no damage can result.

A further object is to provide belt loops for application to a conventional trouser belt to which a work apron can be instantly attached, and which can be also used for attaching tools and other articles to the trouser belt.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efliciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of the improved work apron;

FIG. 2 is a similar view illustrating the two belt loops which are employed for securing the apron in FIG. 1 to the belt of a user;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of an alternate form of belt loop;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the alternate form of loop in place upon the users trouser belt; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the improved work apron in place and ready for use.

The improved apron may be made in any size and shape, and of any suitable material. One of the preferred forms is illustrated in FIG. 1. The latter form comprises a front fabric panel and a rear fabric panel 11, the peripheral edges of both being inturned to provide a finished non-raveling edge when the two panels are stitched together by means of an edge seam 12.

A pocket strip 13 extends across the lower portion of the front face of the apron. The side and bottom edges of the pocket strip 13 are inserted between the front and rear panels 10 and 11 and stitched in place thereto by means of the edge seam 12. Vertical lines of stitching 14 secure the pocket strip 13 to the apron at desired spaced intervals to form the desired number of open top pockets. As illustrated, there are two relatively large side pockets and a relatively narrow vertical pocket in which any desired articles may be placed,

The apron is designed to be supported on the person using it by means of two belt loops 25, such as illustrated in FIG. 2, formed from any suitable material. As illustrated, they are formed from flattened stitched fabric tubes which when flattened, form relatively strong fabric strips. The two extremities of each strip are overlapped and secured together by means of the male portions of conventional snap fasteners 16 with the connecting portions of the fasteners 16 projecting outwardly from the loops. A female portion of a snap fastener 15 of any conventional type is applied through each upper corner of the apron with the receiving socket thereof facing to the rear.

A conventional trouser belt is illustrated at 17 passing through the usual trouser belt loops 18. To initially apply the apron, the user withdraws his trouser belt 17 from the trouser belt loops 18 and slides the apron belt loops 25 over the belt 17 so that one of the belt loops will be positioned over each hip. He then replaces the trouser belt for its conventional uses.

The apron is applied by simply pressing the two female fastener portions 15 over the two male fastener portions 16 so that the apron will occupy the position shown in FIG. 5.

The apron can be instantly removed by simply pulling it away from the male fastener portions 16 to disengage the female fastener portions 15, It can be seen that should the apron become entangled in operating machinery tending to pull the operator toward the machinery, the tension on the apron will simply unsnap the fasteners to free the apron from the user.

In FIG. 3, an alternate form of belt loop for use with this improved apron is illustrated. It comprises a flexible strip 19 of stitched fabric or other suitable material. The strip is provided adjacent its two extremities with the male portion 20 and the female portion 21 of a conventional snap fastener so that the strip can be folded down on itself and secured in a closed loop. A second male portion 22 of a conventional snap fastener is inserted through and clamped to the strip 19 adjacent the fold therein so as to project forwardly therefrom.

It is not necessary to remove the trouser belt 17 for installing the alternate form of loop. They can be applied to the belt by simply unsnapping the fastener portions 20 and 21, slipping the fabric strip 19 over the trouser belt 17, then refastening the fastener portions 20 and 21. The loops of the alternate form will occupy the positions previously described for the loops 25. The apron is applied as previously described by simply snapping the female fastener portions 15 of the apron onto the male fastener portions 22.

The alternate form has all of the advantages of the previous form but would be slightly more expensive to manufacture, It can, however, be unsnapped to receive tools and other articles for attachment to the trouser belt 17. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the bail 23 of a conventional flashlight 24 has been snapped into the loop of the strip 19 for suspending the flashlight from the belt. The alternate form of loop also provides a safety feature for should the articles supported thereby be suddenly pulled upon, the fastener portions 20 and 21 will simply separate to release the article. The improved apron is applied to the alternate form of loops independently of and regardless of articles being suspended therefrom.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to 'be understood that the same may be varied within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

A quick detachable fastening means for securing an apron to a trouser belt comprising: a strip of flexible material, being folded back upon itself to form a bight with a front portion and a rear portion depending from said bight; cooperating snap fastener elements mounted on the portions and acting to detachably secure the extremities of the two portions together to form a closed 3 loop to encircle said belt; and detachable fastening means mounted on the front portion between the bight and the snap fastener elements for securing said apron thereto.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Smith June 21, 1938 N011 Mar. 30, 1943 Kanehl et al July 17, 1956 Hershberger et a1. July 28, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS France Nov. 7, 1923 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1937 

